L2800/L3400 RC size?

[PSDStu]

I was wondering what size RC L2800 and L3400 owners were using.

I think a 5' cutter is for those with Ag tires and the 6' cutter is for those with R4's?

Just wondering if this what the owners were actually using or not?

Thanks!

 

[B2400]

I believe the rule of thumb is approx 5pto horsepower per foot of rotary cutter.

 

[AceDeuce]

The L2800 is similar in HP to an old L2250 my uncle has. Based on my limited experience with his cutter, I wouldn't go more than 5' unless the brush is thin and light.

 

[art]

The conditions would make a difference. A hydro transmission also! I have sold several L-3400 hydro's with bush hog 84T mowers behind. Makes for a quick mow at an enjoyable speed while doing the pastures and misc. fields around farms.

 

[clenhart]

I use a 5' Bush Hog light duty RC on an L2800 with a Hydrostat and R4 tires. With the experience I have had and the type of conditions I mow in, If I had it to do again I would go with a 6' light duty (Of course I would also have gone with the L3400 for the additional HP). In the majority of the situations I have been in, the additional width would have been nice and HP was not a problem. In the few cases where the grass was very thick, I could always take less of a bite. IMO, If the conditions require anything more than a light duty cutter, the physical weight of the cutter will become the limiting factor on these tractors.

Chip

 

[beersngars]

I have an L3400HST and use a Woods 60" Extreme series RC. If I had to do it over again, probably buy the same for the type of mowing it's used for. If you were to be mowing open areas with out a lot of heavy brush, the 72" would be the choice.

 

[Marcussen]

I use a 5 foot woods. Bigger would be too big.

 

[Crash101]

I use a 5 foot Rhino with my 2800. One thing to keep in mind is weight. Some of the heavy duty 5 foot units are quite heavy while some 6 foot light duty models, of which I wouldn't recommend, are much lighter. You wouldn't go wrong with a medium duty 5 foot model made by one of the reputable manufacturers.

 

[teg]

"...5' cutter is for those with Ag tires and the 6' cutter is for those with R4's?...."

Just looked at your question again; It really does not matter what tires you have... at all. Just the PTO HP.

 

[mjfox6]

I have a 5' Lowery heavy duty cutter on my L3400HST. It always bogs down in thick grass and that is mowing in low range. I think a 6' light duty cutter may work better for mowing grass.

 

[Kevin12]

5' Bush hog SQ160 works perfectly on my L3400DT. Plenty of power and I have cut some serious saplings and made new trails. The SQ160 is listed as a standard duty cutter with 2" maximum cutting diameter. Covers the tire tracks with R4's also.

 

[canoetrpr]

I'm with clenhart. I have a L3400 and a BB60 5 footer from Woods. Wish I had gone with a BB72 6 footer. The BB60 just barely covers my R4 width. An additional 6" overhang on each end would help around fence lines.

At the time of purchase the dealer advised me that 5ft was the max I would want to go.

After using the tractor, the L3400 has more than enough HP to handle a 6ft std duty. Weight of a std duty would not be a problem between 5 ft and 6 ft - provided you had a loader.

If you are looking at a heavy duty beast like the BB600 - even the 5 footer is a lot weight wise. Those things are BEASTS!.

 

[PSDStu]

Thanks for all the comments!

The biggest issue for me is my concern about the width of the cutter and being able to cover my tracks.

It seems that in some cases like the L3240 that the tire width difference between R1's and R4's dictates whether or not you need a 5' or 6' cutter.

From what I have read at least on the L3240 it seems that with R1's the rear tire width is right at 60", and with R4's it's right at 70".

My 7510 with R4's is around 42" at the rear and my 4' cutter width is great for getting close to fences....etc...

Looking to upgrade to either a L2800, L3400, or L3240 and trying to figure out which tire/width/cutter combination is going to work best.

Most of my cutting is done in pasture areas and around some large live oak trees.

Based on what I have read for the L2800 and L3400 a 5' cutter is just about the same width as rear when using R4's.... not sure about the width when using R1's.

Also looks like those of you with the L3400 and mowing pasture areas would go for a 6' cutter which the L3400 PTO would handle, and also be wider then the L3400's rear width.

It also looks like the L2800 handles a 5' cutter fine PTO wise.... but may not be wide enough to cover the tire width....and a 6' cutter may be a little more then the PTO HP can handle.

Hope this all makes sense as I try and sort out the right Tractor/Tire/Cutter combination.

Stu

 

[canoetrpr]

If you go with a L3240 with R4s I would go with a 6 footer to cover the tracks. You can always take less of a bite or go slow if you are cutting dense stuff. For pastures that are reasonably maintained, you will be fine IMHO.